Surprises

*I thought I had sent updates before but they don't seem to be showing up, so I'll try to catch you up now.*

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Our bowsprit arrived today, just before breakfast.  I spent most of my morning watching and assisting.  Most of my assisting involved keeping the boat from bumping the barge, but hey, it was assistance.  Eventually the bowsprit was relatively attached, and the barge was sent to collect Andrew (the first mate of the Morning Star) with the food and water. 

Feeling more useless, I went inside and read.  When Andrew returned I helped unload groceries.  Shortly thereafter we finally ate lunch.  SO hungry. 

Eventually everything was fixed and in place and put away and ready and at about 4:00 we pulled away from Porto Astro in Scorponaria Bay. 

We didn't raise any sails in the three hour trip from Porto Astro to our current port (Halkida), but motored steadily.  It was a beautiful day.  A little on the chilly side, but full of clouds and sun and ocean spray. 

The view from the new bowsprit as we finally headed out.

Once docked at port we waited around for Alex (the skipper) to check in with the local police.  Then we made our way to a nearby resturant where we FINALLY had dinner, around 9pm.  It was a lovely dinner of gyros and Greek salads.

We went back to the boat where we crashed for a couple hours.  We were waiting for a call to go under a drawbridge, and the time varied depending on an unpredictable tide.  The call came around 1am and those of us who woke up piled out on deck to watch.  The bridge actually retracted under the road.   As soon as we had passed through we found a place to tie up for the rest of the night and caught as much sleep as possible.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

It was a good day.  We got an early start and motored through the narrow channel between mainland and the island of Evia.  Then we sailed.  

It was glorious.  About half the day we spent heeled over on starboard side, which was an interesting experience, trying to walk, and eat, and read, and function.  

The wind was strong all day (probably around 6 or 7 on the Beaufort scale).  Eventually we decided to find a place to anchor for the night, and about then the wind and waves increased.  Beaufort scale 8 - gale force winds.  We safely dropped anchor off of Karystos and spent the night there.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

This morning we had a conference about what was to be done.  The winds in our part of the Aegean were the strongest in the whole Mediterranean, and while passage to Samos was still possible, it would not be comfortable or easy.  We decided to look at other options for getting to Turkey for that leg of our journey.  After much discussion, debate, and calls to travel agents, we purchased plane tickets from Athens to Izmir and arranged for transportation to and from the airports.  

Some of our time was spent over cups of Greek coffee in cups with the island
of Evia displayed on the side.

The rest of the day we spend resting, reading, and visited shore for about an hour.  It was a lovely day.

A church within the town of Karystos

That evening I spent some time sitting on the newly mended bowsprit, which is quickly becoming my favorite part of the boat.

Friday, May 13, 2011

With all that had gone wrong on the trip, we were rather dreading what Friday the 13th may hold....but it was wonderful day.  

We got up early to eat and shuttle to the island where we met a bus that took us to a ferry that took us to the mainland.  

The ferry traveled over a stretch of ocean we had already visited.  Kind of funny to see it again under such different circumstances.  

The bus drove us off the ferry and to the Athens airport where we caught a plane to Izmir.  Once in Izmir we bought visas and met our tour guide for our time here who took us to our hotel in Kusadasi.  We then had some free time, which was lovely: it meant that we all got to shower.  It was the first hot showered I've had since leaving home...and really the second shower total.  Ahhh....  I also attempted to wash some clothes, so hopefully I won't be so smelly tomorrow.  

After my shower a couple guys and I went out to explore the town, including an Ottoman castle on the sea.  

Tonight we had a quiz before dinner.  It was probably the best quiz I've ever had in my life.  Not because I did particularly well, but, well, in the words of a friend here, "I took a quiz on top of a roof, looking out to sea, at sunset, with beer and hookah!"  The trappings of the quiz were priceless.  

 

That catches us up today, and tomorrow it's on to Ephesus!